AC Milan legend Daniele Massaro attended the UEFA Europa League group stage draw as a club representative and was later interviewed by Sky Sport Italia.

Hello everyone, we're broadcasting live here, and yes, it's a great honor to be with Daniele Massaro today, and it's wonderful to see you again. So let's start by discussing this draw. Of course, although this is the league phase of the Europa League, we have some established powers that have produced great football – like Benfica coming to San Siro, and we'll also travel to Greece to face Olympiacos. There are also potential threats from England, like Sunderland and Bournemouth, who continue to develop and grow stronger. What are your first impressions and initial feelings about this group?

First of all, today is a particularly special and unusual day for me personally. I'm here representing AC Milan, but noticeably absent is a familiar figure – our captain, my captain (referring to the late Franco Baresi). But setting aside the specific draw results, the most beautiful thing is that the coach tirelessly explains what AC Milan is, what leadership means, and what it means to have a sense of belonging to the club every day at Milanello training ground.

The team has started the league season very well, and everyone is very clear about what awaits them in both domestic and international competitions. We are familiar with some opponents in this group, but less so with others. However, we will have enough time to study and carefully analyze them, so we are 100% fully prepared for every match, every confrontation.

It's great that you mentioned Franco Baresi, and we want to emphasize this. At many previous draws and press conferences, we often met – you were there, our media reporters were there, and Franco was there too. And tonight, at AC Milan's match at San Siro, everyone will also remember and pay tribute to him. I think his achievements, his contributions, and the spiritual legacy he left us are fully reflected in moments like today, at crucial points like this, isn't that right?

Absolutely, without a doubt. The strong leadership and sense of belonging he left us cannot be erased, especially this year, because the players have a new coach who has understood what the red and black colors mean since childhood. This is the most crucial and important thing. Perhaps in upcoming matches, we might face opponents who are stronger than us and deserve victory based on their quality, but we will certainly do our best to grow stronger in Italy, in Europe, and throughout the world, just as AC Milan did in its glorious golden years.

Speaking of those golden years, our Daniele shared and spent them on the pitch with Billy Costacurta. So now I'll hand the microphone back to the studio and let you two old teammates chat about it?

Costacurta: I think Daniele just made a remarkable statement. For us old teammates who fought side by side, honoring Franco's great spirit should be our daily commitment in our work and lives. That's why I'm very relieved and pleased to hear what Daniele just said. In fact, viewers at home might not know that the man on screen is a hero who scored two goals in that crucial Champions League final. Since AC Milan's upcoming match against Olympiacos in this group will be very difficult, Daniele, please, when you get there, make sure to remind the current players how to find the back of the net, you know what I mean?

Of course, Billy, I'll certainly do that. But, if we were opponents on the pitch back then, you know what was remarkable? During my brief nine-month spell at Roma, I scored a goal in 1989 at San Siro against the strongest and most solid defense in the world at that time (laughs).

Translator's Note: Massaro scored two goals in the 1993/94 Champions League final against Barcelona, helping AC Milan win 4-0 and claim their sixth Champions League title. In the 31st round of the 1988/89 Serie A season, Massaro, on loan at Roma, scored an equalizing goal in an away match against AC Milan, though Roma ultimately lost 1-4.

Don't rush off, Daniele. I wish you and the team success here, because as we mentioned earlier, we all really value this Europa League campaign, don't we? Because today we're talking about the red and black values that need to be passed from generation to generation, the spiritual concepts that need to be established, and also about the striker who scored two goals in the Champions League final – let's consider this: you currently have two center forwards. One is Gonçalo Ramos, who should be your goalscoring guarantee and a pillar of stable performance. The other is Camarda, a young talent who needs to quickly absorb these experiences and absorb football wisdom into his mind and body as fast as possible. Will these two players be the right striker pairing to help the team achieve its goals this season?

The fact that the coach decided to bring Camarda back to the first team, back "home," means the coach has great confidence in this young player. He has enormous room for growth and improvement, and he has already shown this in the preseason friendlies. I must say that even if he comes on as a substitute, he can still provide tremendous help to the team – as I used to do when I played. For a striker, the most crucial thing is being able to break the deadlock, make a difference, and win matches for the team once on the pitch.

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